Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-13
RELAND'S MESSAGE.
The Full Text Of the Fourth Annual
Message Of Gov. John Ireland
to the Texas Legislature.
Inequality in the Payment of Taxes
NOted-Effects OF Lease and Land
Laws-The Peniten:iaries.
The Greer County Lands, tho Militia. the
Penal Laws, and Other Important
Questions Touched Upon.

Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, Jan. 12.-The following
is the full text of Gov. Ireland's message
to the legislature, which was read to-day
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF TEXAS,
AUSTIN, Jan. L. 1887 I
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
For the fourth time l have the honor
and pleasure of communicating with the
chosen representatives OF the people on
matters pertaining to the general veal Of
the commonwealth. In doing so, take
pride in welcoming you to the capital, and
feel confident that the wise consideration
you will give the questions coming before
you, coupled with your knowledge of the
inc Efficiency Of many of the laws now on
our statute books, will enable you to
promptly pass such measures as the needs
of the public demand and the circum-
stances OF each case Call for.
REVENUE AND TAXATION.
The present rate of taxation may be re-
garded adequate for general purposes.
OF course, in case of large and costly i'm
provements in the way of public institu-
tions, such as have been effected in the
last four years, and the erection of new
asylum for the insane-none of which can
be classed as current or usual expenses
the present rate would not be sufficient.
For all ordinary purposes, however, it
will be found equal to our needs, and will
produce the necessary revenue to meet
every obligation and perhaps yield a
surplus.
German to this subject, it is proper to
remind you that under the laws as they
now exist there is no mode by which COL
lectors and accounting officers can tell
how much school fund and how much gen.
eral revenue has been collected until the
close of the fiscal year. As aconsequence
the comptroller can arbitrarily apportion
same from the general moneys placed in
his hands, and Cftentimes makes the sep
l,aratlon or division without reference to
Iactual facts. The comptroller should not
be charged with this duty, because he
has nothing to guide him. Under the
present condition Of things he may de-
post TO the school or general revenue,
according to his best judgment or Ca
price, and thus augment or diminish
either fund by simple STR Ike of the pen.
There is also custom now prevailing
of money going into the hands Of the
comptroller which Is in direct violation
of the spirit and letter of the constitution.
Our form of government provides tor
but one custodian OF the peoples money
after it Is paid over by the county collec-
tors, an d that custodian is-the treasurer
of the state. To correct this abuse the
comptroller should merely be charged
| with making settlements and issuing
deposit warrants corresponding with
same, but the money in every instance
should be paid directly to the treasurer.
Again. repeat that there! is great ill.,
equality in the payment of taxes in this
state. There are too many ways by
which large wealth avoids its just bur
den of government, especially in regard
to the irregular assessment of property.
The loose methods often adopted under
this heading screens the rich from bear
ing their honest responsibilities, and i'm
poses on the middle classes a proportion
of taxes greatly in excess of their right
full burden.
During portion of the past four years
taxation has been reduced from twenty
two (22) to seventeen and a half Q71)
cents on the 81. The government was
enabled to get along on this small revenue
by using or borrowing certain special
Lands that were in the treasury, and
which for years had been lying idle, draw
ing no interest whatever for the institu-
lions to which they belonged. These
moneys were withdrawn from circulation,
they lay in the treasury vaults as so much
dead capital, they were unproductive and
Improbable; and therefore when the
state was called upon to meet extraordi-
nary expenditures, and cope with emer-
gencies for which no provision had been
made, there were only two ways left open,
namely-either to increase the general
taxation on the people, or borrow from
the idle wealth which had been SO long
shut up, seemingly for ornamentation
rather than use. | sug ested the latter
course, and what has been the result ?
These special funds that had been
locked away and were earning nothing
are now drawing per cent. interest for
the institutions to which they are credit
ed, every dollar of them is secured by
bond in conformit7 with the statute, and
thus they have been made to serve the
double purpose of accommodating pub
lie want while greatly adding to their own
material value. The Institutions they
represent receive an income now where
otherwise they would not derive a cent
oEprofit; the money thet wss withheld
from public circulation, and uselessly tied
up III our vaults, has been returned to the
hands of the people, and taxation has
been reduced to the lowest possible rate.
If these funds amounted to millions in
stead of S240,000, it would be wise states
manship to use hem in the same way.
STATE AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
Notwithstanding the fact that the run
ming expenses of government are con-
stantly growing larger, it is gratifying to
know that here in Texes they are more
than Offset by the STEADY, healthy increase
in taxable values which prevail in every
section and characterize every branch of
industry and trade.
| desire to specially impress on the
legislature the Importance OF throwing
all necessary restrictions around munich
pal governments, county and city,
relative to the creating of debts aud levy
ing taxes. 1t is our experience that all
local governments have an universal
tendency 10 levy all the taxes law will
permit. Too much caution cannot be
given this branch OF legislation, and
while considering it we might remember
with profit the axiom that "a people who
d.ht N clayary oil